Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 69-71 1.
Go to page 70 of Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. Carefully study paragraph 1 and 2. When you have finished highlight those passages.
How did the Jews feel about the Romans?
B. How did Jesus want them to react to the Romans?
Below is a modern-day story to help you understand the concept of “ A New, Clear Reactor.” The questions that follow are to help you think through what you have just read as we go on to study God’s Word.
A New, Clear Reactor
Bud Welch lost his 23-year-old daughter, Julie, in the blast that destroyed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people in all. In a story entitled “Where Healing Begins” (Guideposts, May 1999), he recounts the extraordinary personal journey to forgiveness that began for him on April 19,1995. “From the moment I learned it was a bomb,” Bud writes, “I survived on hate.” His anger was focused on Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, and like so many others, Bud wished for their speedy conviction and execution. When he saw McVeigh’s father on television a few months after the bombing, however, Bud’s emotions began to shift. Oh, dear God, he remembers thinking to himself, this man has lost a child too.
A second turning point in Bud’s journey came when he revisited the site of his daughter’s death in January 1996. Bud spotted an elm tree near the place where Julie had always parked her car. Despite damage from the blast, the tree had survived and even sprouted new branches. “The thought that a came to me then seemed to have nothing to do with new life,” he writes. “It was the sudden, certain knowledge that McVeigh’s execution would not end my pain.” Bud’s advocacy of the death penalty for McVeigh ended soon after, and not without drawing notice. He began receiving invitations to speak about his evolving feelings, and one invitation arrived from Buffalo, New York, the home of McVeigh’s father. Bud knew it was time for them to meet.
On September 5, 1998, Bud Welch found himself in the home of Bill McVeigh, a “blue collar Joe” just like him. He also met Bill’s daughter, Jennifer, who reminded Bud of Julie’s friends. “We can’t change the past,” Bud told Bill and Jennifer, “but we have a choice about the future.” After this visit, Bud launched a campaign to save the elm tree outside the Murrah Federal Building from a bulldozer, and the tree now stands as part of a memorial to the victims of April 19. It also stands as a memorial to Bud Welch’s remarkable journey from hate to forgiveness—from being filled with explosive anger to being a “new, clear reactor.”
“There are many things that are not now seen in a true light, which in the day of the Lord will be made plain. But the question of forgiveness needs no interpretation. There is never a time or place where it is right for you or for me to say, ‘I will not forgive my brother; I will not walk in fellowship with him.’ He who does this places himself in opposition to the teachings of Christ. If your brother does you an injustice ignorantly, and then holds out the hand of fellowship, saying, ‘If I have erred, and have done you an injury, forgive me,’ and you draw away from him, refusing to forgive, you walk away from the great Counselor, and need yourself to repent and be forgiven.
“If he does you an injury knowingly, and afterward repents, saying, "Forgive me," it is not for you to turn away, refusing to forgive him because you think that he does not feel humble enough and does not mean what he says. You have no right to judge him, because you can not read the heart. {SW, January 1, 1903 par. 5}
“If a brother errs, forgive him if he asks you. If he is not humble enough to ask, forgive him in your heart, and express your forgiveness in word and act. Then his sin will not in any degree rest on you. ‘Consider thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’ ‘If he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.’ And we are not only to forgive seven times, but seventy times seven. Just as often as God forgives us, we are to forgive one another’” (The Southern Watchmen, January 1, 1903).
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
The following scenario comes from a summer camp.
In the cafeteria Phil made a comment about Samantha that humiliated her in front of everyone. Many of the boys and girls laughed out loud while those who were closest to Samantha were mortified. What made it worse was that Phil seemed to be completely unaware that he had humiliated her. He continued through the day as though nothing was wrong. She wanted to humiliate him at an opportune time. Her counselor noticed and encouraged her to have a talk with Phil. What are some of Samantha’s options? What will bring her the most satisfaction? What would help Phil change how he treats others? What would you advise Samantha to do?
Log on to www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative to posting. You also may wish to share your thoughts with your class.
1 Samuel 24:1-22 (New International Version)
The following Bible passage is an old story of a jealous powerful man seeking to destroy a young man who strives with all his heart to react the way God wants him too. Read the passage and decide if you could react the same way this young man did.
1 “After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, ‘David is in the Desert of En Gedi.’ 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 “He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, ‘This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, “I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.”’ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5 “Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.’ 7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 “Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, “I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’S anointed.” 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, “From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.
14 "’Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.’
16 “When David finished saying this, Saul asked, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ And he wept aloud. 17 ‘You are more righteous than I,’ he said. ‘You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family.’
22 “So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
The following are reactions that we humans have to real situations. In one column are reactions we might have, the other column begins with a bible verse. You should look up the bible verse and put down in the following column what our New Clear reaction should be with God’s help.
| Our Reaction | God’s Advice | Our Reaction with God’s Help |
| Our “enemy” is hungry | Proverbs 25:21, 22 | |
| Your “enemy” is thirsty | Proverbs 25 :21, 22 | |
| Someone hurts you | Proverbs 20:22 | |
| Your “enemy” is hurt or makes a really big mistake | Proverbs 24:29 | |
| Someone destroys your reputation | Proverbs 24:29 | |
| Kids make fun of you | Romans 12:14 | |
| You want revenge | Romans 12:19 |
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 71-75 1.
Please use a New International Bible to fill in the blanks. You can find an NIV Bible at www.RealTimeFaith.adventist.org. Click on Resources and go to Bible Gateway.
1. “Do not hate your brother in your___________. Rebuke your ____________ frankly so you will not _____ in his ___________. Do not seek _________ or bear a ___________against one of your _______, but love your neighbor as __________. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:17, 18). 2. “Do not say, ‘I’ll _______ you back for this ________!’ Wait for the Lord, and He will ________ you” (Proverbs 20:2). 3. “Finally, all of you, live in __________ with one another; be ____________, love as _____________, be ______________and humble. Do not ________ evil with _________ or insult with _______, but with __________, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, ‘Whoever would love life and see _____ days must keep his _________ from ___________and his _________from ___________ speech. He must turn from evil and do ________; he must seek _______ and ___________it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the __________ and his ears are attentive to their ______________. But the face of the Lord is against __________ who do evil” (1 Peter 3:8-12). 4. “Do not say, ‘I’ll ____ _____ ____ ____ _____ ______done to me; I’ll pay that ________ _______ _____ _____ _____ _____’” (Proverbs 24:29).
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 76-78
Highlight the last four full sentences on page 77 that tell us what it means to be perfect like God.
Also read the following bible passage, then answer the questions at the end of today’s lesson.
Romans 12:14-21 (Contemporary English Version)
14 “Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. 15 When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. 16 Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. 17 Don't mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, 18 and do your best to live at peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, ‘I am the one to take revenge and pay them back." 20 The Scriptures also say, “If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads.’ 21 Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.”
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
It has been said that what makes Jesus so compelling is that He believes the best about us while knowing the worst about us. Jesus actually believes there is a hero in each of us, in spite of the sinful nature we have inherited. Through His power we are capable of the most perfect kind of love. And God asks you to practice kingdom-like grace to those who are mean. If someone hates you, you can be certain God loves you. If someone mistreats you, you have the option either to chain yourself to that unfortunate moment or to live generously and not be bound by the anger.
In order to do this, we have to ask the Spirit to help us think as God does. God looks at our mistakes and our awful tendencies and sees a precious child who is acting foolishly, but has the potential for better days. God sees our mean behavior and says, “There is a better way to handle your own pain than by hurting others.” Are there some people that you need to set free from your anger? Are there some events that you just need to let go of? Ask for the power to do it.
Review this week’s lessons, paying special attention to passages that you have highlighted.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Apply the questions that appear below to one of the stories mentioned in this lesson or to one that you are familiar with that addresses the topic of revenge. See if you can discover what might help defuse the situation and bring something good out of the bad.